Graduate support programs

Graduate nurses and midwives are beginning practitioners, and as such should be welcomed by experienced practitioners. All nurses and midwives have a mandatory obligation under their respective Standards for Practice to mentor, guide and support new graduates as they continue to develop clinical skills and gain confidence in their practice, as well as provide opportunities for graduates to demonstrate leadership skills for future roles. Graduates should be appointed to full-time positions on a permanent basis either at commencement or completion of their graduate program and offered participation in a structured clinical/educational support program. Each graduate should be employed according to their current registration and graduate role. This information sheet outlines range and frequency of role placement, preceptoring arrangement, graduate input, working conditions for graduates, graduate responsibilities with client groups, graduate development, graduates and part-time work, re-entry nurses and midwives, and graduate support.